Call for City of York to scrap 'anti-homeless' benches

Protestors say bars installed on benches in Rougier street are designed to deter homeless people

More than 5,400 people have signed a petition backing the removal of metal bars on benches in a York street amid claims they are "anti-homeless".

City of York Council installed the bars in Rougier Street bus shelter following complaints of anti-social behaviour.

A petition, handed in on Thursday, claims they have been introduced to "deter homeless people from sleeping" on the benches.

Council leader Chris Steward has denied the claim.

Petition organiser Richard Bridge said the bars, installed on two benches earlier this month, were part of a "whole load of defensive architecture that is trying to stop people who are rough sleeping from being in the public realm and they are intended to stop people from lying down".

"Research tells us they they will push people away from the safer spots where they can be in the public eye," he said.

About 60 protestors held a demonstration in St Helen's Square on Thursday calling for the removal of the bars.

A protest opposing the installation of the bars was held in St Helen's Square

Mr Steward told BBC Radio York: "They are not there to stop homelessness, they are there partly as an armrest, partly to supply more support to the elderly and infirm as they get up and also to stop people lying down to some degree."

A council spokeswoman said the bars had been installed following consultation with North Yorkshire Police.

The council provides about 140 beds available for homeless people in the city.